Israel to UN: Flotilla participants were violent terrorists, not peace activists

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Monday evening, less than 24 hours after the deadly naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. During the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called Israel's actions "murder committed by a state without any justification," adding: "We saw an act of barbarism in live footage and Israel's hands are covered with blood," he added. But video footage shows brutal attack on troops on board Gaza-bound vessel; soldier says passengers fired at forces, beat them severely using metal bats, knives. ‘We landed barehanded, and they lynched us,’ a commando said

The deputy head of Israel's mission to the United Nations, Dan Carmon, told the Security Council, "Although portrayed in the media as a humanitarian mission delivering aid to Gaza, this flotilla was (not) a humanitarian mission. If indeed it were a humanitarian mission it would have accepted, weeks ago, during the planning stages, the offer by the Israeli authorities to transfer the aid, through to the port of Ashdod, to Gaza through the existing overland crossing, in accordance with established procedures. Many states and organizations, including the UN, are using those mechanisms on a daily basis."

"The Flotilla organizers not only rejected this offer, but stated clearly that (and I quote) 'this mission is not about delivering Humanitarian supply, but rather about breaking the Israeli siege,' as Greta Berlin, a flotilla spokesperson told the media last week."

Carmon continued: "What kind of Humanitarian activists demand to bypass the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other internationally recognized agencies? What kind of peace activists use knives, clubs and other weapons to attack soldiers who board a ship in accordance with international law? What kind of Humanitarian activists, some with known terrorist history, embrace Hamas, a terrorist organization that openly shuns a two state solution and calls for Israel destruction, defying conditions set by the international community and the Quartet? The answer is clear: they are not peace activists; they are not messengers of good will. They cynically use a humanitarian platform to send a message of hate and to implement violence."

"Let me remind the Council that a state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas terrorist regime controlling Gaza. Let me remind the Council that rockets and mortars are still being launched by Hamas and others toward southern Israel. Let me remind the council that Gaza is occupied by terrorists that ousted the PA in a violent coup, and that arms are continuously being smuggled, including by sea. Let me stress that a maritime blockade is a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea," he added.

The Israeli official said the radical Turkish IHH organization, one of the primary organizers of the flotilla, announced just prior to boarding "we are going to resist and resistance will win.” Carmon said IHH "has a radical anti-Western orientation. Alongside its legitimate humanitarian activities, it supports radical Islamic networks such as Hamas, and at least in the past has even supported global jihad elements, such as al-Qaeda. Being a so-called humanitarian mission, these champions of human rights also rejected in the initial planning stage an Israeli request to ask Hamas to allow the Red Cross to visit captured soldier Gilad Shalit," he added.

The Turkish FM, ridiculously, responded to Carmon's claims by saying that the flotilla was carrying supplies "for the children of besieged Gaza, and now these children don't know where their next meal will come from." The Palestinian observer in the UN, Riyad Mansour, told reporters prior to the meeting that he expects a swift response to Israel's actions. "We hope the Security Council will take decisive action…A response that will demand explanations from Israel and condemn (Israel) for this operation. The blockade on the people in Gaza must be lifted."

Tags: IDF, UN, flotilla, gaza

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Comment by Mark Storm on June 2, 2010 at 1:20pm: P.S.
Thank you ''radiantstreams'' for spelling Israel's legal right to the Blockade and counter-Blockade measures.
You are totally correct.
But I still think Israel's response was ham fisted.

Comment by Mark Storm on June 2, 2010 at 1:16pm: James C Wherry is exactly correct.
This is a clear example of Israel not being within her rights to defend herself (she is) but an example of monumental mishandling. Israel can well do without these ham-fisted approaches.
Similarly Mossad's recent passport bungles.
Israel ought to be mindful of the old British saying: ''Softly, softly, catchee monkey!'' It means be subtle, be patient. Someone in the IDF and Mossad has been watching far too many American Marine / Tough Guy movies! And it's not working. When are they going to get the message?

How hard would it have been for Israel to get a number of World Media outlets photographers/camera-men "embedded'' with customs officials - not commandos - who would be lowered down onto the ships - at the EXACT same moment that the Israelis customs officials were lowered - if indeed, not a moment before?!
Or is someone going to tell me there isn't one single sympathetic-to-Israel world media news service left on the planet?
How hard would it have been to keep these camera-men with the Israelis when they asked the Protesters "Seeing as you've decided to force our fully rightful and legal blockade, may we at least please search your ship for contraband goods... ? You tell us that all you've got is humanitarian supplies... may we search your ship please to be certain of that?" These questions, asked live, broadcast live, to the entire world exactly at the moment of the interception on deck.
What would the protesters say: ''No... you can't search our ship?! You've got no right... get lost!'' That, of course, is practically admitting guilt... but let's go with that for the moment.
Okay. Let's say they did that. What now?
Israel broadcasts to the world that people are resisting her internationally legal right to search suspect vessels bringing uncalled-for ''aid'' to a known-to-be-hostile-to-Israel people through unapproved channels.
Then send in a 'frogman' team to dis-engage the ships' propellers.
If the protesters try a hunger strike for world sympathy, Israel should respond with: ''All you have to do is let us search your ship. We fear there might be weapons aboard... which will, if landed in Gaza, will perpetuate the violence and suffering. It's a reasonable request for us to worry about this. Let us search the ship. Simple. It'll all be over in half an hour."'
And if nothing was found, so what? No problem.
And in all cases, what protester would dare attack an UNarmed Israeli customs officer if the World Media cameras were there?
Of course the Palestinians and their supporters would call the whole thing a Israeli plot / set up.
But then, would there have been 9 people dead and all this uproar, either?

Comment by James C. Wherry on June 1, 2010 at 9:01am: SOME CONCERNS REMAIN, THOUGH. . . .

Look, folks: we knew this was going to be a propaganda flotilla. Why DID Israel permit this to occur? Why was there NO way to stop the boats by taking out the propellor by explosives or entanglements???? Why not drop tear gas and other non-lethal munitions on the deck of any ship that chose not to alter course?

Please, my friends in Israel: COMPETENCE! While you had no legal obligation to do so, these are simple steps to outwit the witless. You DID have 2 weeks to prepare. MORE ships will come.

Comment by James C. Wherry on June 1, 2010 at 8:53am: Utterly ridiculous! There is a war on because Hamas/PLO has DECLARED WAR on the nation of Israel and its right to exist. They actively seek to destroy it. Under international law, Israel has every right to enforce a blockade and to use force to enforce it. If this WAS a group of peaceful, non-violent protesters or protestors throwing rocks, I could understand that the law of proportionality would require the use of non-lethal force including tear gas, batons, shields, ear piercing whistles and other items from any non-lethal kit. HOWEVER, these "protestors" used knives and metal bars - deadly weapons. That FULLY permitted the use of deadly force and I am glad that Israel has stood up for its rights.

The people who are angry at this are the ones angry at the nation of Israel and its very existence, and we all know that.

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